Having three young granddaughters I try to stay on top of news and events that might have a damaging effect on their lives. One such news item I have recently come across involved how easy it is for young people especially women to be drawn into the anorexic lifestyle.

In a recent article, written by David Rivelli on November 27, 2007,  found at: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=70761 our young people are finding advice on joining the anorexic community on their computers. Beware, the advice found on these web sites could cost your loved one their very life.

For those of you unfamiliar with this eating disorder it you may find the statistics alarming at best. Anorexia occurs when the person becomes obsessed with their weight and appearance, pursuing thinness to the point of starvation. It is a condition often seen in those professions, like gymnastics dance, or skating, where weight affects performance.

Sadly, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa it has been gaining momentum and now affects approximately seven million women and one million men in the United States. Forty-three percent of those afflicted are between the ages of 16 and 20.

To protect our young people web sites promoting anorexia must be shut down and while you may think that such Web sites are few and far between I hate to differ with you. Keith Sanderson, director of communication for the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa, tells us that “if you were to Google anorexia, it is likely that the LiveJournal pro-anorexia social networking community would come up almost No.1.” LiveJournal is the Internet’s second largest social-networking Web site and claims to be the largest pro-anorexia Web site in the world with more than 10,000 people signing into this community daily.

If you take the time to check out this site you will see that the site offers tips on how to hide anorexia from family members, encourages anorexic behaviors, serving up graphic images to motivate those who visit the site, so that they will continue the anorexic lifestyle.

To fight back Sanderson provides the following tips to keep your children from accessing these Web sites:

• Purchase parental control software that will allow you to filter what your children are able to access on their computers. One such software is found for under $40 at Contentwatch.com.
• Set a curfew on how late your children are allowed to access the Internet or work on their computer.
• Teach yourself how to log onto the Web sites your children frequent such as MySpace, YouTube, and LiveJournal.
• If you experience any concerns regarding your child’s eating habits contact a professional immediately. Anorexia is about control and you will find yourself out of your element without the guidance of a specialist in eating disorders. The faster you recognize the problem and get help the better chance your child has of avoiding the health dangers associated with.

Unfortunately, these sites are not illegal so it is up to you to monitor and be responsible for your child’s computer internet experience. I hope that this information is a valuable guide to any of you with children who may be experimenting with something that they are too young to control.

Tags: anorexia, anorexic, anorexia nervosa, eating disorders, computer exposure, livejournal, youtube, content watch, myspace, internet, google, david rivelli, keith sanderson

For most of us life is a gift that we tend to take for granted not realizing just how suddenly it can end. Given that as a basis for this article I suppose I should explain what has motivated me to write it.

A few years ago my then teen age daughters had a dear friend who at 16 years of age had everything going for him. Todd was bright, funny, and good looking. He was the kind of kid that even adults fell in love with for his giving and sweet attitude and joy for life. Then tragically one night he died when he attempted to help an older woman on a deadly highway grade. True, God must have missed Todd very much because the giving away of the mountain side could have never been predicted but when it gave it pushed Todd�s car off a 75 foot embankment into a swirling cesspool of water at the bottom.

That same month a 45-year-old friend of mine died of a massive heart attack. Again, Louie was a kind, good-hearted loving man who was working hard to raise the daughter he loved and support the wife he adored. Louie, like Todd, worked hard and drew people to him like a magnet and then all of a sudden his flame was extinguished and we were all the worse for it.

However, it was the combination of these two events that awoke in me a desire to live my life to its fullest since none of us can know when we will no longer have the opportunity to do the things we need or want to do. For me, it meant taking several measures that I would have put off for years and which I am so thankful that I took. The first of these was to divorce my husband of 20 years. While emotionally terrifying and physically exhausting this move has changed me, over the last 15 years, for the better,

While I would never suggest that a marriage end in divorce in my case my first marriage had nothing going for it. I can�t say it was a mistake since God gave me two wonderful daughters that I will forever be grateful for but other than that my first husband and I were just plain miserable. For me, God allowed me to meet my current husband almost immediately and we have been married for over 14 years. Ron is my best friend. He is loving, kind, responsible, and truly my soul mate. Additionally, my girls, despite the fact that the youngest was already 14 when we married, now love him as much as I do and consider then to be their Dad.

This is never so evident as it is with my youngest daughter, a single mom, who came home to live us again, at 20 when she found herself expecting a child. Ron opened his arms to her and she stayed with us until our grandson was a year old and Ron gave her the down payment for a little house of her own. That grandson still spends everyday with us, while mom works, and is the sparkle in his Papa�s eye.

Ron also gave me the opportunity to return to college and get not just one degree but 2, as well as, a CA teaching credential. Then he opened a successful business and the two of us began teaching at the local college.

Despite all of his success in CA, however, he is such an open person, that he willingly picked up and moved us 1900 miles to Missouri to enable me to live close to the sister and brother-in-law that raised me. How would I have known 15 years ago that God would have blessed me so richly?

Taking chances is risky, be it sky diving, skiing, mountain climbing, having a child, getting a divorce, or remarrying but if you don�t live everyday as if there may never be another you can never experience the joy that may be out there for you.

For some they consider suicide when events seem overwhelming. My answer to them is that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem and a better alternative is live as if this were to be your last day on earth, take the bull by the horns so to speak, and make those difficult choices that can change your life forever.

�

Tags: life, life changes, last day, suicide, suicide alternative, divorce, children in divorce, emotional duress, death, god’s blessing

Table Rock Lake is located in the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri. The lake itself was created in the late 1950s when Table Rock Dam was created. The creation of the resultant lake destroyed only one village, the village of Oasis which was situated on the south side of Long Creek across the stream from Goat Hill just outside the mouth of Big Cedar Hollow.

Today most of the recreational diving sites on Table Rock Lake are downstream from Kimberling City. On an off note, if you do go diving in one of these locations you may want to seek out Jill�s in Kimberling City on the way home for one of the finest rib or chicken dinners out there. Back on track this lower end of Table Rock Lake has some of the clearest water making several destinations perfect diving sites.

One such location is Duck Island which is located off State Park. At this location you will find on the eastern side a 25� sunken cruiser that is sunk in 45� of water. Then just two miles south of Duck Island you will find Breezy Point, the Saddle and Breezy Island. This location has a natural steep, narrow ridge that runs underwater out from the west shore and then rises to form Breezy Island also making it a fine place for diving.

Further up Long Creek, is the flooded town of Oasis, which is covered over by 100� of water. Deep dives in this location will provide the diver with a glimpse of the once quaint little town that includes its one-lane bridge, foundations and building rubble. However, being under water since 1957 has left little remaining of the settlement.

In a large cove north of Table Rock Dam lies the Enchanted Forest. This area provides a breathtaking view of a large grove of submerged hardwood trees which is also home to a wide variety of fish.

In Jacques Creek, a tributary of Table Rock, lies the sunken Zebulon Pike, a 90� excursion boat that was formerly known as the Branson Belle. The name was changed to prevent confusion with the still floating well-known Showboat Branson Belle. The Zebulon was actually placed in this location to create a pleasurable diving experience.

In close proximity to the Zebulon Pike you will find Jake�s Point Island where there is a large submerged cabin cruiser on its southwest side. Two other submerged boats lie on the lake floor downstream of Kimberling Bridge, at Point 7 and between Points 6 and 7. Both rest somewhere between 40� and 45� in depth.

This is in no way the only diving sites available to the adventurous diver but other locations may require more diving experience than these as they are much deeper dives. People seeking this type of adventure should seek the assistance of a diving guide service.

However, one must not limit their southern Missouri experience to just visiting these diving sites or you will miss out on the many others adventures this part of the country holds. One such adventure would be a visit to Branson, Missouri with its host of shows, shopping, and dining offerings. Here for the kids you will find Silver Dollar City, Celebration City, Dolly Parton�s�Dixie Stampede, and a Titantic Display that features many artifacts from the original vessel. So while visiting us here in Missouri plan to stay a while I am sure that the friendly people and midwest hospitality will make your experience something you will never forget.

Tags: southern missouri, missouri, table rock lake, diving sites, silver dollar city, dolly parton’s dixie stampede, titantic display, branson mo, branson, midwest, celebration city, kimberling city, jills, duck island, long creek, oasis mo, breezy point, jacques creek, zebulon pike, branson belle, sunken ships, table rock dam

This book was written in 1877 and is a first-hand account of the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre by the only Mormon convicted of participating in that heinous act of unadulterated human slaughter. This shocking autobiography was written as Lee sat in jail awaiting his execution for the slaughter of more than 120 men, women, and children and if taken at face value presents Brigham Young as a subhuman cretin.

The two major aspects of this memoir/book by J.D. Lee are the following:

First it must be acknowledged that J. D. Lee never recanted his belief in Brigham Young, the then prophet of the church, nor did he at any time say anything against Mormon Church doctrines. Given that it is hard to believe that the charges in his book were not fabricated by his lawyer or book’s publishers who like so many people at that time were out to hurt the Mormon Church.

Secondly, there is no living witness to clarify what really happened that day in Mountain Meadows, Utah and what is recorded as history is filled with conjecture making it difficult to sort fact from fiction. It is a known fact; however, that the Mormons were viciously attacked, murdered, and kicked out of every place that they attempted to settle in until the federal government stepped in during the early 1900s (see recorded historical events such as the Hauns Mill Massacre and the Joseph Smith, Extermination Act of Missouri by Governor Boggs). This being proven history, it would be no surprise if the Mormon settlers, of that day, did choose to react quickly to any threatening situation that they incurred in Utah. It is also well known that the sect that Lee encountered that dire day were a group of Arkansas Baptists who made it no secret that there was no love lost between them and the Mormons and in fact to this day they continue to expend much energy and money to defame the Latter-Day Saints.

While it is a shame that anyone seeking a new life would have participated in such a vile event, I am still unable to get a clear picture in my mind as to what actually occurred since the recounted events are filled with too many contradictions of myth to draw any sure conclusion. However, one cannot use the excuse of previous bad acts against a people to extract revenge on a group of people not connected to any of the others grievances suffered by the LDS people. So, while overall I have never experienced any violence from the LDS people and even have several family members who follow this doctrine, I have to believe that the culprits who committed this barbaric act will receive their punishment at God’s hands if they haven’t already.

One important thing to consider today, however, is that the Mormons I have known are generally a much respected group of society who like most of us only strive to live a good and honorable life with high standards and morals. Of course, like with the rest of society there will always be those out there who claim to belong to a particular group but only tend to cause others to look down on the group as a whole.

What surprises me the most about this book that has just recently been reprinted, after being out of print for 100 years, is being used by some otherwise intelligent people to condemn all Mormons as immoral and evil people. Yes, John D. Lee was executed for the murders in Utah but while he was a member of a gang that committed a vile act not all Mormons can be judged by his acts. For me, it is important to address the fact that this version of John D. Lee’s writings could easily have been manipulated by the editor to convey an anti-Mormon message. This book is also available in more Mormon friendly version recently released by the church under the title “A Mormon Chronicle”. In this version John Lee was a good man who found himself killing men, women and children in cold blood. It is offered as a means to understand how humans and in this case Lee came to do what he did. Certain similar massacres of Vietnamese civilians by US troops, the Cambodian killing fields, the Nazi concentration camps and Spanish Inquisition of similar value to help us see how easy it is for humanity to disintegrate under extreme duress.

The Beverly Lewis Abram�s Daughters series of books are perfect for those desiring to learn more about the Amish culture or desiring fine Christian reading material with an emphasis on the belief in saved by Grace not by Works. Beginning with her novel The Covenant and ending with her 5^th book of the series, The Revelation Lewis develops a family that will endear themselves to you as they blunder through troubles of their own making, as well as, that caused by others.

Of particular interest to me, since I live just outside of Springfield, Missouri, was that Beverly Lewis, attended and later received the 2003 Distinguished Alumnus Award at Evangel University in Springfield, MO. The author is extremely prolific at combining her knowledge of Pennsylvania Dutch countryside with her early reminiscence of growing up in a Plain family.

In The Covenant you meet rebellious Amish teenager, Sadie Ebersol who is in the midst of her rumschpringe when she succumbs to the charming wiles of Derreck (Derry) Schwartz who deserts her leaving her in the family way. In addition, you meet Sadie�s Mamma, Dat, Aunt Lizzie (who also had a baby out of wedlock), and Sadie�s siblings (Leah, Hannah, and Mary Ruth).

Sadie who is at the crossroads of choosing baptism into the Amish church or being shunned by her family and living the life of a modern woman struggles with hiding her growing pregnancy from her family. As the story progresses through other books in the series you experience the heartache of betrayal, sacrifice, endurance and blessed hope as the family members and loved ones find themselves first torn apart and then reunited. Overall, however, you find a strong Biblical doctrine that prevails throughout � For by grace are ye saved, not by works, lest any man should boast. Using this as her main emphasis one sees how the members of the Ebersol family and the families that are intermingled with them are slowly led to a place of happiness and trust in the Lord as their Savior.

So if you are looking for an uplifting, Christian, (somewhat preachy), series of books Beverly Lewis is one of the authors to look for.

Tags: abram’s daughters, the covenant, the revelation, christian fiction, amish, saved, novel, beverly lewis, rumschpringe, faith, courage, challenge endurance, shunning, pennsyvania dutch, distinguished alumnus award, evangel university, springfield, mo

Gomez-Jurado�s debut thriller, already a bestseller in
Spain, is a fascinatingly complex tale that focuses on recent events as seen though the eyes of three very different lead characters. These various fictional characters are then mingled with real-life figures such as John Negroponte, who currently serves as the United States Deputy Secretary of State, who plays the part of a shadowy backstage conspirator. The subjects covered in the book are both sensitive and explosive dealing with such controversial issues as the Saint Matthew Institute that in reality utilizes a controversial method to treat clergy who have been accused of pedophilia�

The novel revolves around serial killer Victor Karosky, a pedophilic priest whose resume includes many violent and repulsive acts. Karosky is stalking the cardinals in line to be Pope John Paul II�s successor and after the discovery of a second victim crime Inspector Paola Dicanti, of the Italian violent crime unit is called in. However, to her dismay she finds that a new and mysterious ally, one Anthony Fowler, a former priest and American intelligence operative is already aware of the killer�s identity. �

Given that Gomez-Jurado uses the sex scandals that have rocked the Roman Catholic church is nothing to be surprised about but it is interesting to note that not only is the crime solver American, the shady conspirator American but also the serial killing priest is American. Overall though the story is gripping with a lot of twists and turns that leave the reader wanting more.�

In everyday essence, however, I did find some of the character development a little on the thin side but the character�s psychological profiles were interesting. Thankfully, there was no gratuitous sex or language thrown at the reader and while the violence was vividly described it was told in such a way that it was important to the story. Additionally, I found that some spots that were hindered by translation problems were somewhat distracting. �

To generalize the overall message of the book would be impossible as it was a combination of what one might expect if you combined aspects of the DaVinci Code with Red Dragon while throwing in Ted Bundy and Hannibal Lechter with a touch of Cherise.In other words, it was a wonderfully done tale of pedophilia, incest, and torture done with a plot that galloped along at the insanely incredible pace of the Four Horsemen. Overall, however I felt that for a first debut Gomez-Jurado managed to create a first-rate thriller.

Tags: god’s spy, gomez-jurado, davinci code, fiction, novel, catholic church, roman catholic church, cardinals, pope paul ii, john negroponte, spanish novel, red dragon, four horsemen, hannibal lechter, cherise, murder, conspiracy, pedophilia, sexual child abuse, torture, suspense, thriller

Living in the middle of the U.S. one can expect to hear of tornado warnings and watches whenever two opposing weather fronts come into contact. The resulting condition then produces a violent storm that appears as a funnel-shaped cone descending from the clouds with winds that reach up to 300 miles per hour. Tornado season commonly occurs during the months of March through August, but tornadoes can occur at any time and while they are most commonly found in what is commonly called �Tornado Alley�, which travels throughout Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas they can occur anywhere.

The term “Tornado” was originally used in the 14th-century as a sailor’s word to describe a violent, windy thunderstorm and may have actually be derived from the Spanish word tronada, meaning “thunderstorm.”

In the event that you find yourself under a tornado watch you should keep your radio or TV tuned in to make sure that it doesn�t change to a tornado warning.

A tornado watch is broadcast on your local radio or TV station when conditions in your area make it possible that a tornado could develop. For more accurate local information you may wish to own a weather radio that can be tuned specifically to your local weather service. That basically means that you should watch the sky for any signs of a funnel cloud forming.

A tornado warning means that a tornado has been actually been spotted and could be moving into your local area. Weather forecasters and tornado spotters are fairly accurate at keeping you informed of where the tornado may be headed at any given time. In our local area for instance there are existing tornado warning sirens that go off approximately 45 minutes to an hour before a possible tornado might strike. Residents at that time are encouraged to seek out their local tornado shelter or enter their own tornado proof shelter or prepared room.

Shelters are often found at local schools. However, if you do not hear the siren in time or choose to stay in your own home locate the innermost, windowless room in your home. It may be a closet or an interior bathroom. Cover yourself with blankets or take refuge in a tub with a mattress over you for protection. Be sure that the room or safe area is big enough to hold your family and/or pets that may need protection. Doing this may save your life.

Of important note, however, is that if you are in a mobile home at the time of the tornado warning GET OUT. Find the nearest ditch that is below regular ground level and cover yourself with something that will protect you from falling debris. Do not stay in a mobile home during a tornado. It is not structurally sound enough to withstand the high winds produced by the tornado and many lives are lost every year by people who have chosen to stay in their mobile homes once a tornado warning has been broadcast.

Tags: tornado, weather radios, mobile home, tornado warning, tornado watch, interior rooms, tornado shelters, warning sirens, tornado sirens, tornado season, tornado alley

Earthquakes are frequently so slight that you cannot feel them but are you prepared for when a bigger one strikes?

An earthquake is an adjustment of the earths surface that causes movement along cracks called fault lines. They are measured by something called a Richter scale which ranges from 1 to 10 in regards to the severity of the quake. While earthquakes are common on the West Coast of the U.S. and other countries throughout the world it is necessary to note that no area is totally free of the threat of earthquakes.

Unfortunately, there is still no way for scientists to predict when or where an earthquake might hit and they can do a devastating amount of damage in the short time that they last, usually less than one minute. In minor earthquakes you may only realize that you are in the middle of one when you notice hanging plants sways or objects wobbling on shelves. So, generally speaking at this point you have experienced an earthquake below 4.0 on the Richter scale. If the quake is under 2.0 on the Richter scale you will probably not even be aware that it has occurred but when the magnitude reaches 5.0 you can expect to see some damage. The Northridge Earthquake that hit Southern California in 1994 was magnitude 6.7 and did considerable damage. A warning that you are going through an earthquake can also be found in a low rumbling noise or a sharp jolt similar to the sensation you might experience if you were to ride a bicycle down a long flight of stairs.

If you find yourself inside when an earthquake begins to shake try to find cover under a table or other heavy piece of furniture or in the supported area under a doorway and hold on. Stay away from glass windows and shelves that may break and send out shards of glass.

If you find yourselves outdoors stay away from trees that may uproot and fall on you. Drop and lay flat on the ground.

If you find yourself on a bridge or freeway deck drive as safely and quickly off the structure as is logistically possible and then pull your car to the side of the road. If you find yourself on a straightway of road and you are in a car, stop the car and pull off onto the side of the road as soon as possible.

While sometimes called temblors, quakes, shakers, or seismic activity earthquakes can cost many people their lives so if you find yourself in one remember to drop, cover, and hold on.

[tags][earthquake, earthquake safety, Richter scale, seismic activity, shakers, tremblors, quakes, Northridge Earthquake,/tags]

After the devastating fires that shook Southern California this past month, all of us should be re-awakened to how terrible a fires aftermath can be to those touched by its fury. Despite this, however, the Public-Private Safety Council estimates that 4% of U.S. homes do not have smoke alarms and that another 20% have non-functioning smoke alarms due to dead or missing batteries. Of those households with non-functioning smoke alarms owners cited that they had disconnected them due to nuisance alarms or continuous alarming. When figured out mathematically this represents roughly 21 million households making the people in those homes vulnerable to fire death.

In those homes with functioning smoke alarms additional fire safety training and inspections are needed to change behavior to support smoke alarm strategy. These measures would include teaching families how to create a home escape plan, how to inspect and maintain smoke alarms and safe options for dealing with nuisance alarms.   Children need to be taught ahead that fires can be scary and confusing. They need to know that fires can be loud, burn very fast and that their smoke can make a room or home very dark. The family escape plan should include info such as: 

• Get out fast
• Never hide or take time to gather up their toys or other belongings
• Two meeting places: one near your home and one outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return to your home. 

In cases, like forest fire, you should have a pre-prepared family supply list.

This list should include the items that every family should have close by such as emergency supplies such as water, food, infant formula, medications, dog food and important family documents.

These basic supplies should include:

• One gallon of water per person per day
• A three-day supply of non-perishable food
• A battery-powered radio
• An NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• A battery-powered flashlight
• Extra batteries
• First Aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Infant formula
• Infant diapers
• Moist towelettes
• Toilet paper
• Garbage bags w/plastic ties
• Dusk mask or cotton t-shirt to filter air
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to keep smoke out of immediate area
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food
• Clothing– One complete change of clothing and shoes and person. Remember your environmental conditions and plan accordingly.
• Bedding – sleeping bags or blankets for each person 

Other items to consider: 

• Emergency reference materials such as first aid book
• Rain gear
• Mess kits
• Paper cups/plates
• Plastic utensils
• Cash / Traveler’s checks
• Paper towels
• Fire Extinguisher
• Tent
• Compass
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Signal flares
• Paper / pencil
• Personal  hygiene items (tampax etc)
• Bleach *** DO NOT USE non-scented, color-safe or bleaches with added cleaners *** to disinfect water for drinking (use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water for drinking purposes)
• Copies of insurance policies, identification, and bank account records placed in a waterproof container. 

Once you have prepared your emergency kit it is important to plan how to get in touch with other family members. Some ideas for staying in touch include:

Deciding that each member will call or e-mail the same person. For example, each person will contact Uncle Bob first. If he’s not home, each person will contact Aunt Suzie instead. If cell phones are not working, you should try using a land-line phone at a neighbor’s or friend’s house, or a public telephone. Everyone should have coins or a prepaid phone card to make the call. It might be easier to reach a person who’s out of town. You can contact him or her to let them know you’re okay.

Next you need to determine where you would meet up with each family member. In determining this you should choose an easy-to-find location near your home. Next choose an easy-to-find location outside of your neighborhood in case you can’t get home. To ensure being able to keep in touch keep a copy of your family’s contact numbers and meeting place(s) taped to the inside of your briefcase, with your emergency supply kit, in your car, and in your child’s binder or backpack. Remember phones may be hard to use during a fire emergency but just keep trying.

Parents of school age children should talk to teachers or school principles to find out about the school’s emergency plan. This plan may mean that your child will be required to stay in their classroom or go somewhere else until the emergency is over. Therefore, it is important that you advise your children that in the event of an emergency they must remain calm and listen to the direction of teachers and/or the principal and that they will be reunited with you as soon as possible.

Lastly, for those pets that you cannot take with you make sure that you have made arrangements for them to be taken care of. In many cases it will not be possible for you to take them into the shelter with you. However, if you do plan to keep them with you be sure to include these in your emergency kit:

• Pet food and treats
• Drinkable water in plastic bottles
• Can opener for canned food
• Pet medications and medical records in a waterproof container
• Sturdy leashes, harnesses and/or carriers so you can move your pets safely and they can’t escape (remember they may be scared and may act different than usual)
• Current photos of your pet in case they get lost
• The name of your veterinarian
• Pet beds and toys, if there is room.
• All your pets should have an identification tag and collar, too.  

In the event of a fire emergency these basic preparation guidelines may not only make things tolerable but could actually save your life. Given that, please take the time to ensure your family’s survival by gathering your emergency supplies and formulating a plan – one which you hopefully will never be required to utilize.

Tags: fire, emergency, emergency supply list, family plan, emergency prepardedness, preparation guidelines, protecting your children, smoke alarms, battery-powered radios, battery-powered flashlights, sleeping bags, infant formula, medications

Go Airlines is a division of MESA Airlines which was founded by Larry Risley in 1982. They began with scheduled service between Farmington and Albuequerque, New Mexico using a passenger Piper Chieftain. I admire Mr. Risley, who is an airplane mechanic by trade, who started by mortgaging his house and managed to develop Mesa Airlines into one of the largest regional airlines in the world but GO needs some help.

Since 1990, Mesa has grown by managing to achieve codeshare status agreements with Delta Air Lines, United and America West but it is GOs 50-seat regional Hawaii flights that service Lihue, Kahului, Kona, Hilo, and Honolulu that needs to be restructured for customer convenience. The customer service that we received at the Honolulu terminal was horrendous.

Anyone can understand mechanical delays if the customer service works with you but that was not the case with GO. Let me tell you a true story that occurred a couple of weeks ago.

We had booked an early morning flight to Honolulu from Kona for a day hop to see Pearl Harbor and the Missouri. When we arrived at the Kona terminal no one could help us locate the GO desk. In fact, agents from other airlines had us scurrying all over the terminal and since the desk didn’t open until a half hour before the scheduled flight we were at a loss. Finally by mere chance we found the one agent representing GO and were able to make our flight. To there credit this flight was on time.

However the return trip was nightmare. After spending an enjoyable but tiring day in Honolulu we arrived over an hour early at the Honolulu terminal for our return trip. The flight was scheduled to board at 5:15pm with a scheduled departure of 5:35pm. When it got to be 5:25 customers began asking the customer service agents, who were between the ages of 18 and 24, when the flight would be boarded. They were repeatedly assured that the flight would board in the next few minutes. In the meantime the agents laughed and conversed among themselves and showed no respect for the customers awaiting the flight. After the scheduled departure time one lady asked if the flight was in a for a long delay as she needed to be in Kona for a wedding rehearsal dinner. She was assured there was no problem. At this point she still had time to make other connections through Hawaii or Aloha airlines.

Another lady called her husband and told him to expect her flight a few minutes late but to go ahead and go to the Kona terminal. Several of the passengers had small children and were anxious to get back, as were we. Then finally after several confrontations with the agents it was announced that our flight to Kona would not depart until 7:30 pm which meant arriving in Kona after 8:30 pm. The reason a mechanical problem that they had been fully aware of all day.

This was inexcusable in itself but the attitude of the manager, again about 24, was unbelievable. He refused to help anyone get a refund to enable them to purchase other tickets, saying that they would have to contact customer service another day. If they wanted to purchase a ticket from another airline that was up to them but they would have to up front the money. Also they never apologized for their deception nor did they make any attempt to pacify the passengers who had been inconvenienced. Overall, they were just downright rude and unhelpful.

One frustrating add-on point is that when GO Airlines customer service was contacted after our return they didn’t even have the courtesy to acknowledge that we had contacted them with a legitimate complaint. So if they don’t care about passengers and their comfort can we be sure that they care about our safety. Ever wonder how well their planes are serviced and maintained? I know that in business if a company shows a lack of caring for customers in one area they are generally not too concerned about other areas either.

Additionally, several passengers on other flights received the same treatment with some of their flights being cancelled, with no warning, .after they were allowed to wait for several hours. No other airline has ever been so unresponsive to passenger needs. Especially in terms of this being a known problem that was not weather related. My advice is stick to the better known airlines with a reputable, proven reputation like United, Aloha, or Hawaiian and by all means if you need to get somewhere on time and want an airline that cares about their passengers don’t count on GO Airlines.

Tags: go airlines, mesa airlines, larry risley, united airlines, delta air lines, aloha airlines, hawaiian airlines, customer service, customer safety, regional airlines, honolulu terminal, kona, day trips, island hops